How to pick a good day care
[attach]836[/attach]Many parents try to give their kids an edge going into kindergarten by enrolling them in daycare.
But not all daycare centres are alike.
When it comes to choosing the right one for your child, you need to do your homework, says Rachel Langford, director of Ryerson University’s early childhood education department.
“You really have to find out about the philosophy of the centre and what they’re doing there,” she says. “I would recommend observing the centre to yield the most information.”
If a daycare is littered with toys, it may be a warning sign, Langford says. A good daycare is enriching as well as entertaining.
“Daycares should provide creative arts and physical activities that promote the development of the child,” says Langford. “They should have planned experiences that provide the child with an opportunity to grow.”
Asking about the curriculum is critical, says Langford.
“The more time children spend outside, the better,” she says.
Instructors should have at least a college diploma in early childhood education, and preferably a degree as well.
Shannon Balm, the director of Little Tots Manor, holds both.
“One of the most important things about Little Tots is we provide an enriched curriculum through planned play,” says Balm. “It helps promote the development of fine motor skills.”
Balm suggests parents tour a potential facility and make sure the staff has first aid training and emergency medical supplies on hand.
“It’s not unheard of to ask for a police reference check,” says Balm.
While assessing the instructors, pay particular attention to the relationships they’ve developed with the children.
“They should be positive, responsive and genuinely interested,” says Langford. “Instructors should interact with the children in a respectful and kind manner.”
Balm cites the low child-to-teacher ratio at Little Tots for the centre’s success. Little Tots boasts one instructor for every two infants. For older students, the ratio is one to eight.
In addition, the curriculum is varied.
“We have song and dance, music, French, storytelling and all kinds of games,” says Balm. “We also have a lot of field trips, which is really important.”